Smoking or like stand



June 26, 1962 w. s. PEARSON 3,041,031

SMOKING 0R LIKE STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1958 June 26, 1962w. s. PEARSON 3,041,031

SMOKING OR LIKE STAND Filed Aug. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H IY/iam 5.Pearson 3,041,031 SMGKWG R LlKE ST William S. Pearson, 5821 ClearspringRoad, Baltimore 12, Md. Filed Aug. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 755,066 12 Claims.(Cl. 248158) The present invention relates to improvements in portablestands especially suitable for use as smoking stands, tray supportingstands and combination types of such stands.

Although stands of the character herein contemplated are of necessityprimarily utilitarim, it is also desirable to afford them with anattractive appearance as articles of furniture. Where the stand is ofunusual appearance and possibly even affords a necromantic illusion, thestand provides an interesting conversation piece.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention toprovide a novel stand construction affording unusual appearancecharacteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand constructionaffording the appearance of consisting of a material known to beincapable of self-sustaining characteristics but which in the standprovides the illusion of self-sustaining rigidity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel stand combiningrelatively rigid and inherently flexible materials in a manner to affordthe illusion that the stand is composed of the flexible material whilenevertheless receiving substantially rigid support from the rigidmaterial.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stand simulatingthe legendary Hindu rope trick.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved structure ina stand construction uniting in assembly an inherently flexible andprimarily ornamental sheath and a supporting co-re device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means forsecuring a substantially rigid core within a rope sheath or casing in anassembly especially suitable for sup-porting stands such as smoke standsand the like.

It is also an object of the invention to provide improved means forconnecting a separable tray or ash receptacle to the upper end of asupporting stand.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stand embodying features of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the stand with the tray portion removedtherefrom;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the tray portion of the standof FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the lineIVIV of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional elevational detail view takensubstantially on the line VV of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional detail view takensubstantially on the line VIVI of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of a stand,including the tray supported thereby, showing a modified construction;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on an enlargedscale taken substantially on the line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of the fidlfifi Patented June26, 1962 head end portion of the core and tray supporting structure ofthe assembly of FIGURES 7 and 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of an unassembled ferrule of the kindshown in the assembly of FIGURES 7 and 8. V

In a practical form of the invention, there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2a stand 15 affording the illustion of the legendary Hindu rope trick andconstructed and arranged to support a tray structure 17, in theillustrated instance comprising a combination smokers article and ashsupport and receptacle and a glass receptacle. In keeping with the ropetrick illusion, the base portion of the stand has the appearance of acoil of rope, upwardly from the center of which the stem or standardportion of the stand projects to the desired height.

According to the present invention, the stand 15 comprises a flexiblesheath or cover which, for utter realism, preferably comprises actualrope 18 in the usual helically wound twisted strand form made of hemp,manila hemp or other suitable fiber. If desired, of course, an imitationrope form sheath or casing made of plastic or other suitable materialmay be used. For special purposes, other types or forms of flexible moreor less tubular sheathing or casing material may be used such asflexible conduit of the kind commonly referred to as BX.

Within the inherently flexible sheath 18 is assembled a substantiallyrigid core 19 (FIGS. 2 and 4), preferably in the form of a metal rod ofsuitable diameter. In a typical instance, a quarter inch steel rod hasbeen used to good advantage, although obviously rods of othe metal suchas brass, hard aluminum alloy or the like may be used. The rod core isformed with a generally open spiral base portion from the center ofwhich rises an upstanding standard portion, in as nearly as practicablethe form that would be imagined for a rope standing up from a coil ofrope resting upon a floor. Since the rod core is encased in the ropesheath 18, the rather striking illusion is afforded of the rope risingfrom the coil and holding itself erect. This illustion is accentuated byhaving the end portion of the rope on the outside of the base coilproject substantially beyond the base loop or coil portion of the corerod 1%, as best visualized from FIGURE 2, so that such terminalextension of the rope will afford a flexible portion which can behandled or shoved by the toe end of a persons shoe relatively flexiblyyieldably.

In order to restrain the opposite end portions of the rope sheath 18against unravelling or fraying, suitable binding means are preferablyprovided such as ferrulelike member 20 about the loop terminal endportion and a ferrule-like member 21 about the standard terminal endportion. These ferrules or binding members 20 and 21 may comprise asuitable cord o wire helically closely wound under suitable bindingcompression. Where wire is used, it may be coated or uncoated, plated,enameled or otherwise suitably finished. Where cord is used in thebinding ferrules, it may be matching or contrasting color.

Insofar as the loop terminal portion of the rope sheath 18 is concerned,and more particularly that portion which projects beyond the end of thecore rod base loop portion, means are preferably provided for impartinga certain amount of resiliency and more particularly for retaining therope against unwinding of the helically wound stnands. Suit-able meansfor this purpose comprise one or more suitable wires, one practical formcomprising three small gauge steel wires in suitable similar lengthstrands 22 helically twisted upon one another for mutual resilientsupport and permanently secured as by welding or the like at one end ofthe twisted wire assembly to the base loop terminal of the rod 19. Fromsuch connection to the rod terminal, the wire core extension projectsthrough the center of the rope base loop terminal portion as best seenin FIGURES 2 and 6 and terminates short of the extremity of the ropeterminal within the confines of the binding ferrule 20. Here the freeterminals of the core wires '22 are directed angularly generallyradially relative to the encircling rope sheath 13 to provide anchoringprongs 23 embedded in the rope sheath as held under compression withinthe binding ferrule 20. Thereby, since the core wires 22 stronglyresiliently resist any twisting action thereon, they also resist anyrope-unwinding twisting action, especially through the anchoring prongs23. Additionally, the resiliently flexible helically twisted core wires22 tend to resiliently maintain the otherwise flexible rope sheathterminal extension portion in generally spiral loop form as an extensionof the more rigidly held base loop portion within which the base loop ofthe core rod 19 is encased.

At the upper end of the standard portion of the stand 15 the rope sheath18 extends a predetrm-ined distance beyond the upper extremity of thecore rod 19 as best seen in FIGURE 4 and means are attached to the upperend of the core rod to serve primarily as connecting means for the traystructure 17 but also serving as means for preventing unwinding of therope sheath in coactive relation to the upper terminal binding ferrule21. T this end, a stiflly resilient longitudinally split tubular sleevemember 24 of about the same outside diameter as the core rod 19 issecured coaxially upon the upper tip of the core rod as by means ofwelding, brazing or the like as a head extension, within that portion ofthe rope sheath 18 extending beyond the tip of the core rod and with theupper extremity of the sleeve 24 substantially coincident with the upperhead end extermity of the rope sheath. One edge of the sleeve along thelongitudinal split therein is turned generally radially outwardly andprovides a limited width anchor flange 25 (FIGS. 4 and engaging withinthe encompassing rope sheath 18 as pressed into engagement with thesleeve by the externally encompassing retaining ferrule 21.

Because of its split construction, the sleeve member 24 provides aresilient, gripping socket for a substantially press fit depending stem27 of the tray structure 17 (F168. 4 land 5). In a convenient form, thestem 27 comprises not only a connecting device for the tray structure17, as a unit, for detachable connection thereof to the top of thestandard portion of the stand 15, but also as means for securingtogether in a unit the several tray structure components.

Herein, the tray assembly 17 includes a lower principal tray component28 providing an ash receptacle plate over which is carried a smokersarticle supporting rack member 29 including a plurality of generallyradially outwardly projecting article supporting arms 3t; arranged in agenerally basket-like relationship for accommodating a central,concentric upwardly opening, preferably resiliently flexible plastic,glass receptacle 31. For securing all of the tray components together,the connecting pin 27 is provided with a head portion 32 extendingconcentrically through each of the components and provided on its lowerend at juncture with the body or shank portion of the stem 27 with acollar 33 underlying the tray pan 28, While on its upper end the headportion has a retaining enlargement or head flange '34 coactive with thecollar flange 33 to clamp the components firmly together in assembly.

In the present instance, a pleasing, ornamental and utilitarianarrangement is provided by having a tray pan or plate 28 in more or lessthe form of a lotus leaf while the glass receptacle 31 is in the form ofgenerally a lotus flower with the cup of the receptacle subdivided intogenerally lotus petal configuration and with a double layer of the petalsegments in mutually side joint overlapping relation as shown. In thebottom of the receptacle 31, a sponge rubber pad 35 of spongy, moistureabsorbent character may be removably disposed. By virtue of the plasticconstruction of the glass receptacle 31, cold beverage glasses will besupported in a substantially insulated manner.

In the modification of FIGURES 7 and 8, a stand 4%? may embody generallythe structural features of the stand 15, including a sheath 41 which maybe rope or other flexible desirable sheath encasing a supporting core 42which may be in the form of a rod. To enhance resistance to unwinding ofthe helical strands of the rope sheath 41, the core rod 42 is preferablyprovided with spaced spiral lines of knurling 43 which may extendthroughout the length of the rod and provide respective series of raisedteeth which frictionally and bitingly engage with the opposing portionsof the rope strands in teriorly of the sheath and thus afford a highlyeffective resistance to unwinding of the rope strands.

Additional anchorage of the rope sheath 41 against unwinding, and alsoanchorage of the upper terminal portion of the sheath to the core rod 42is eflected by a binding ferrule 44 encompassing the upper end portionof the rope sheath and compressing the encompassed sheath portion aboutthe upper terminal end portion of the core rod 42 and a tubular socketmembe 45 carried by such terminal end portion of the rod. In a desirableform, the ferrule 44 comprises a metallic strip which may be brass,steel, aluminum or the like of normally expanded split sleeve form asshown in FIGURE 10 and of a large enough inside diameter to fit easilyover the terminal portion of the stand standard assembly to be gripped.Integrally from one end of the strip projects an extension tongue or tab47 preferably located centrally on such end and providing with anangularly generally inwardly bent pointed tip terminal 48 which is insetfrom the plane of the base end portion of the tab 47 about the thicknessof the material of the sleeve, with respective opposite aligned notches49 in the opposite edges of the tab on the juncture between the terminal48 and the "body of the tab. In the opposite end portion of the sleevestrip is provided an inset seat 50 receptive of the body portion of thetab 47, with a slot 51 along the inner end of the seat where it joinsthe body of the sleeve and receptive of the terminal 48 of the tab.

In applying the ferrule member 48 about the upper end portion of thestandard, the ferrule sleeve is closingly compressed about the ropesheath 41 coincident with projection of the tab terminal 48 through theslot 51, and since the curvature of the terminal 48 toward its tip is ona smaller radius than the radius of the inside diameter of the sleeve,the terminal projects as a prong into the encompassed portion of therope sheath 41 and serves as a positive anchor against unwinding of therope. In the final increment of assembly compression of the ferrulesleeve 44, respective interlock shoulders 52 at the opposite ends of theslot 51 interlockingly snap into the notches 49 of the securing tab 47and provide a positive locked retaining relationship of the ferrule 44about the encompassed assembly. Only a slight undersize or differentialin spacing between the opposite interlock shoulders 52 relative to therespective opposite shoulders of the terminal 48 defining the notches 49is suflicient to afford a quite effective positive interlockedrelationship to hold the ferrule sleeve under fairly tight, uniformencompassing compressive grip about the encompassed assembly.

Advantageously, the socket member 45 is in the form of a solid sleeve ofan inside diameter to fit firmly about the head end portion of the corerod 42 and more particularly the knurling 43. Positive securement of thesleeve 45 to the rod may be effected as by spot welding 53 (FIG. 9).Beyond the tip of the core rod 42, the socket sleeve 45 projects to theterminus of the rope sheath 41 (FIG. 8) thereby providing a socketopening from thehead end of the standard.

Within the socket afiorded by the sleeve 45 is received a depending stem54 having a head flange 55 secured concentrically in supporting relationto the lower side of a tray plate 57.

In order to effect a positive connection of the tray connecting stem 54within the socket provided by the sleeve member 45, the free end portionof the stem is externally threaded and thereby threadedly engageablewith internal threads 58 within the socket portion of the sleeve member45 and conveniently provided on a plurality of annularly spaced inwardindentations or embossments 59. Thereby, the general inside diameter ofthe socket portion of the sleeve member 45 may be slightly oversizerelative to the diameter of the stem 54 so as to receive the same infreely slidable relation, while nevertheless a firm threadedinterconnection of the stem within the socket is effected for preventingunintentional withdrawal of the stem 54 from the socket.

Additional protection against unwinding of the rope sheath 41 may beattained by providing the sleeve member 45 with lateral projection meanssuch as one or more tangential anchor bars 60, the opposite ends ofwhich engage within the rope sheath strands and afford positiveanchorage against relative turning of the rope sheath and the corestructure of the standard. The anchor bars 60 may be welded, brazed orotherwise secured to the outside diameter of the sleeve member 45.

It should be understood that various features or details of the forms ofthe present invention disclosed may be interchangeably utilized, aspreferred. For example, the ferrule sleeve 44 may be substituted forboth of the binding ferrule structures and 2 1. of the form of FIG- URES1 and 2, or on the other hand the form of the ferrule structuresrepresented by the ferrules 20 and 21 may be substituted for the sleeve44 if preferred.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stand of the character described, a rod-like sub stantiallyrigid core having a base loop and a standard supported in erect positionby the loop, a concealing sheath about the core and projecting apredetermined distance above the upper end of the standard portion ofthe core, a socket carried by the upper end portion of the core andconcealingly surrounded by and opening upwardly from the projectingportion of the sheath, and tray structure having a stem supportinglyengaged in said socket.

2. A stand structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket comprisesa resilient split sleeve for effecting a yieldable grip upon said stem.

3. A stand as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket comprises a sleevehaving indented portions thereof threaded and engageable threadedly withthreads on the stem.

4. In a stand of the character described, a rod-like substantially rigidcore having a base loop and a standard supported in erect position bythe loop, a concealing sheath about the core and projecting apredetermined distance above the upper end of the standard portion ofthe core, a socket carried by the upper end portion of the core andopening upwardly from the projecting portion of the sheath, and a traystructure having a stem supportingly engaged in said socket, said sockethaving lateral projection means thereon engaging within the encompassingsheath and holding the sheath against turning relative to the core.

5. A stand as defined in claim 4 wherein said projecting structurecomprises a flange turned from said socket.

6. A stand as defined in claim 4 wherein said projecting structurecomprises anchoring projections secured to the external surlace of thesocket.

7. In a stand simulating the Hindu rope trick, a rope sheath, asubstantially rigid formretaining core rod in said sheath and affordinga base loop and an erect standard, means securing the rope sheath to thecore, the rope sheath projecting a substantial distance beyond the endof the core base loop and being flexibly movable relative to the core,and a resilient wire member secured to the terminus of the core loop andextending within said projecting rope portion as a fiexi-ble resiliencyimparting device and having anchor means coacting with the extremityportion of said rope portion to retain such rope portion againstunwinding.

8. A stand adapted for use as an article of furniture, comprising asubstantially rigid core including a base in the forrri of a horizontalloop of substantial diameter and an upwardly extending standardprojecting as an integral extension of one end of the loop to asubstantial height and substantially centered with relation to the loop,a covering sheath on the core inclusive of said base loop and saidstandard, means carried by the upper head end of the standard forsupporting an article, said sheath having an upper end portionprojecting above the head end of the core and about said means, and amember clampingly encircling said upper end portion of the sheath andsaid means and thus securing the sheath to the core.

9. A stand as defined in claim 8, wherein said loop is of spiral formwith a free end at the outer side of the loop and said end from whichthe standard projects located at the inside of the 'loop.

10. In a stand structure of the character described, a core having ahorizontal loop of substantial diameter defining a base and a standardextending as an integral upward extension of one end of the loop andprojecting to a substantial height with relation to the loop, supportingmeans projecting upwardly from the upper end of said standard, a ropesheath enclosing said core including said loop and said standard andhaving an upper end portion projecting upwardly from said upper endportion of the standard about said supporting means, and a ferrulecompletely encircling and compressing said upper end portion of the ropesheath about the upper end portion of the standard and said supportingmeans and into tight engagement with the core.

11. A stand as defined in claim 10 wherein said ferrule comprises atighlty wound helical wire strand.

12. A stand as defined in claim 10 wherein said ferrule comprises a bandhaving a slot and a locking tab engaged in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.63,475 Levy Dec. 11, 1923 D. 168,484 Tobey Dec. 23, 1952 360,567 DunhamApril 5, 1887 500,006 Kadletz et a1. June 20, 1893 603,132 Drake April26, 1898 1,283,438 Boomer Oct. 29, 1913 1,237,014 Botty et al Aug. 14,1917 1,251,646 Day Ian. 1, 1918 1,297,802 Dambruch Mar. 18, 19191,370,697 Mann Mar. 8, 1921 1,613,382 Clarke Jan. 4, 1927 1,614,338Awoki Ian. 11, 1927 2,567,593 Bemis Sept. 11, 1951 2,607,648 MetcalfAug. 19, 1952

